How we Started

The Trust came into being, as a Registered Charity, in May 1985, but the work was started a little earlier in the 1980's, when Ginny Hajdukiewicz moved to Wales from Gloucestershire.

Ginny with Davy and baby Gwilym

Ginny started to visit local sales and was appalled by the dreadful condition and treatment of many of the animals that she saw. Witnessing a foal being brought into one particular sale with a broken leg and then led away from the main market to a distant pen for humane destruction (so as not to offend the human onlookers). Ginny decided to try and find a Welsh horse charity to support, there wasn't one! So Ginny took matters into her own hands and formed the Lluest Horse and Pony Trust, with three Trustees and herself as Manager. It took time and hard work, but eventually her dream became a reality in 1985. The four ponies that she had already rescued personally and currently cared for were officially taken over by the Trust.

Ginny managed the Trust for 9 years, giving her services free and making many personal sacrifices to keep it going. She rescued many horses and ponies and provided a safe haven (Lluest is the Welsh word for haven) offering the love, care and attention that every animal deserves. As a result of her efforts market conditions also started to improve. In 1992, however, Ginny experienced health problems and was diagnosed with breast cancer, which finally claimed her life in September 1994, when she was only 38 years old. Ginny is buried at the Trust, and her favourite pony, Prince, is buried nearby. Her grave bears the words
"In The Face Of Uncertainty There Is Nothing Wrong With Hope". Her friends and supporters have since carried on the Trust's work in her memory and it is still going in its 22nd year, thanks to the loyalty and generosity of so many people throughout the UK and abroad.

The Trust is entirely dependent on voluntary donations and fund-raising activities. Each year over £58,000 must be raised to cover the running costs of the Charity. This sounds an awful lot of money - but the Trust usually cares for over 30 horses, ponies and donkeys at the farm and it costs just £37 a week to keep each animal - this covers food, housing and bedding, daily care, vet and farrier fees. Our staffing level is minimum - just the manager and two grooms plus a group of volunteer workers who each give one or two days work each week. Administrative costs are zero - everything is done on a voluntary basis. Anybody who gives to this Charity is assured that every penny really is used for the purpose for which it is given - to care for the animals.

Lluest Horse and Pony Trust is the vision of one remarkable woman, whose inspirational drive has saved many ponies from slaughter or wretched lives of cruelty and neglect. It is a small charity which has never lost sight of its simple motto -

"Every Penny Possible for the Ponies"

GWILYM 11hh Chestnut Gelding, Born 1991

Who can resist Gwilym - Snatched from the jaws of death and nursed back to health against all the odds. He was taken to a sale as a foal with mis-shapen legs, unable to stand. He had no mane or forelock due to severe malnutrition. He had rainscald, worms, a respiratory infection andwas passing blood. Believe it or not Ginny still had to pay for him!! How to nurse a very sick foal during the cold winter months - Obvious ! Take him into the farmhouse by the radiator for three months and feed him every two hours! His coat, mane and tail still bear witness to his dreadful start, but he is very friendly and inquisitive. Everyone's favourite cheeky chappy!

Please will you help us and the Ponies and donate whatever you can
to keep this little charity and Ginny's dream, alive.